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PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


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Purington,  Louise  C. 
Our  medical  work 


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JSoutse  <C.  Qpurington,  (Wt.©. 


(Africa  (TEest  Centraf). 

Dr.  Rose  A.  Bower Sakanjimba. 

3ndia : (Marathi  (Mission. 

Dr.  Julia  Bissell Ahmednagar. 

Dr.  Curubai  Karmarkar Bombay. 

Dr.  Louise  H.  Grieve Satara. 

Dr.  Ruth  Hume Ahmednagar. 

3ndia : (Madura  (Mission. 

Dr.  Harriet  E.  Parker Madura. 


Cljina. 

Dr.  Kate  C.  Woodhull  Foochow. 

Dr.  Minnie  Stryker Foochow. 

Dr.  Lucy  P.  Bement  . . . Shaowu  (W.  B.  M.  I.) 

Dr.  Emily  Dillman  Smith  . Ing  Hok  (W.  B.  M.l.) 


drained  (tturses  and  (ftssisiants. 


Mademoiselle  Cronier Madura. 

Elizabeth  M.  Trowbridge Aintab. 

Emma  D.  Cushman  Cesarea. 

Madoline  Campbell Ahmednagar. 


Sjospi tafs  and  dispensaries. 

Madura,  Ahmednagar,  Foochow  ; Hygiene,  including  Diet 
Kitchens,  Sanitary  Inspection,  Water  Supply,  etc. ; 
Itinerating  Medical  Band. 


©ur  flfoeMcal  Mork 


“ Howbeit  that  was  not  fizst  which  is  spizitual,  but  that 
which  is  natuial ; and  afterwaid  that  which  is  spiritual.” 

A half  century  of  work  in  foreign  fields  had  passed 
before  more  enduring  foundations  were  begun.  “ Pray 
for  the  health  of  the  missionaries  ” was  a comparatively 
recent  request  in  the  “ Missionary  Herald.”  The  need 
of  the  time  is  “ body  Christians,”  says  John  G.  Woolley  ; 
only  such  are  fit  temples  for  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

The  Mohammedan  knows  little  of  faith.  “ Have 
you  heard  the  gospel  before  ? ” asked  an  Englishman  of 
a Chinaman.  “ No,”  was  the  reply,  “ but  I have  seen 
it.”  The  answer  referred  to  the  power  of  the  Christ  life 
to  control  the  liquor  habit,  also  the  opium  habit,  but  it 
relates  equally  to  the  gift  of  healing.  To  the  native  it 
seems  nothing  less  than  magic  to  note  the  conduct  and 
experience  the  treatment  of  the  educated  physician. 
The  hospital  and  dispensary  practice,  the  pharma- 
ceutical preparations,  the  skillful  diagnosis  and  power 
over  disease, — all  this  and  more  are  to  the  Oriental  an 
awesome,  supernatural  revelation. 

The  way  is  in  a great  measure  prepared  for  the 
reception  of  the  Divine  Guest.  “ What  reason  ye  in 
your  hearts?  whether  it  is  easier  to  say,  thy  sins  be 
forgiven  thee  ; or  to  say,  rise  and  walk  ? ” 


4 


© ur  /Ibe&ical  T!£lorfc 


In  America  the  medical  gospel  stands,  in  most  cases 
at  least,  for  special  sympathy  and  tenderness,  for  nursing 
and  care,  and  extra  devotion  and  thoughtfulness.  To 
the  Oriental  it  is  just  the  opposite.  The  sick  person  is 
often  abused  and  the  treatment  most  inhuman.  Sick- 
ness is  believed  to  be  the  work  of  demons  and  all  man- 
ner of  barbarities  are  practiced. 

Brain  and  nerve  may  be  exhausted,  but  the  weariness 
is  met  with  noise,  the  beating  of  drums,  gongs,  and  a 
fearful  din.  There  may  be  cutting  and  the  infliction  of 
wounds;  amputation,  performed  by  hacking  the  limb  at 
the  joint  and  working  at  it  with  a sharp  shell ; even  if 
successful  and  the  member  is  removed,  there  is  no  use  of 
antiseptics  or  soothing  applications  of  a healing  nature. 

A common  treatment  for  pain  is  by  cutting  ; sharp 
cuts  are  made  in  the  head,  abdomen,  or  wherever  the 
pain  may  be  located.  Surgery  as  a science  is  unknown, 
and  of  course  the  diagnosis  of  disease,  prophylactics  and 
the  simplest  alleviations  are  wanting. 

In  circumstances  like  these  what  must  it  mean  to  have 
a new  heaven  and  a new  earth  opened  by  the  Christian 
physician  ? “ An  angel  from  heaven  could  not  be  more 

welcome,”  says  Mrs.  Joseph  Cook.  Prejudice  is  dis- 
armed, blind  eyes  are  opened,  deaf  ears  unstopped,  the 
heart  is  won,  and  a saved  body  means  a saved  soul. 
These  are  “ babes  in  Christ,”  but  if  relieved  of  physical 
suffering  they  walk  by  sight,  and  are  more  susceptible  to 
the  walk  by  faith. 


©ut  /DbeDtcal  TMlorft 


5 


JLbC  Hmertcan  3B03C&. — A study  of  the  medical  work 
of  the  Woman’s  Board  implies  a glance  at  the  parent 
organization — the  beginnings  of  this  work  in  earlier 
years  by  the  American  Board.  Dr.  John  Scudder  was 
the  first  of  its  medical  missionaries,  going  to  India  in 
1819.  His  four  sons  and  a grandson  followed  him  in 
medical  service  on  the  foreign  field.  Others  went  out 
to  different  countries — the  importance  and  value  of  the 
work  continually  growing. 

Dr.  Peter  Parker  was  the  first  to  go  to  China,  in 
1 834.  His  going  led  to  the  formation  of  the  first 
“ Foreign  Medical  Missionary  Society.”  This  was 
organized  at  Edinburgh  in  1841,  starting  from  very 
small  beginnings  in  an  old  whiskey-shop,  and  having 
for  its  supervisor  the  famous  Dr.  Abercrombie,  physi- 
cian and  philosopher.  It  is  now  transformed  into  the 
“ Livingstone  Memorial  Association,”  with  fine  build- 
ings, and  has  a large  representation  in  foreign  medical 
missionary  work. 

At  present  the  American  Board  has  forty  medical  mis- 
sionaries, twelve  of  them  women,  and  ten  of  these  under 
the  care  of  the  Woman’s  Boards.  Educated  native 
Christian  physicians  are  increasing — notably  in  Japan; 
also  trained  physicians,  nurses,  and  medical  and  hygienic 
work  in  all  countries. 

Native  agencies  are  multiplying,  so  that  it  is  some- 
times said  of  the  graduates  of  the  schools  and  colleges 
that  each  pupil  who  goes  home  is  an  entire  committee  on 
better  living,  on  sanitation  and  hygiene,  family  and 
school  life,  and  improved  community  conditions. 


6 


©ur  flbebfcal  UClorft 


IDt.  Cl8rH  SWfllU.  The  first  woman  to  go  as  a medical 
missionary  to  India  was  Dr.  Clara  Swain,  sent  out  by  the 
Methodist  Board  in  1 869  — the  first  woman  physician 
from  any  society.  She  was  greeted  by  a native  as  fol- 
lows : “We  need  lady  physicians  very  much ; light  has 
dawned  from  America.  Ah,  how  much  that  word 
means  to  the  oppressed  ! ” 

And  the  need  is  for  the  best,  “ picked  women,” 
thoroughly  trained.  The  native  nurses  are  often  ig- 
norant, immoral,  and  in  general  their  interference  is 
only  to  make  matters  worse.  So  the  cry  is  for  the 
flower  of  women’s  colleges  who  will  take  the  higher 
subjects,  train  the  nurses,  and  strengthen  and  deepen 
the  spiritual  life. 

Earlier  W.  B.  /ID.  ZlDeMcal  /iDlsslonarles. 

The  Woman’s  Board  of  Missions  was  organized  in 
1868.  In  1873  its  first  medical  missionary,  Dr.  Sarah 
F.  Norris,  of  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  sailed  for  Bombay. 
Dr.  Ogden  also  went  to  India  (Sholapur),  in  1876. 
Dr.  Wadsworth  was  at  Constantinople  briefly,  married 
a native  and  in  1875  returned  to  this  country. 

Dr.  Norris  was  indeed  a pioneer.  Mrs.  Robert 
Hume  during  fifteen  years  of  service  was  but  once 
admitted  to  a native  home.  Dr.  Norris  carried  the 
key  which  opened  doors.  The  way  had  been  pre- 
pared by  the  Zenana  Mission  of  an  English  society. 


©ut  /Ifte&tcal  Udorfe 


7 


The  natives  were  made  ready  to  receive  a physician 
into  their  homes.  She  visited  high  and  low,  rich  and 
poor,  Hindus,  Mohammedans,  and  Parsis,  and  after 
the  first  day  there  was  never  a shadow  of  objection  to 
her  coming.  She  had  at  once  the  confidence  of  the 
people  and  most  friendly  relations  were  established.  In 
less  than  three  months  she  had  made  four  hundred  pre- 
scriptions ; ten  thousand  were  treated  annually  at  her 
dispensary  and  more  than  fifteen  thousand  received 
religious  instruction.  When  she  left  in  1881,  they 
parted  with  her  sorrowfully  and  begged  her  to 
speedily  return. 

In  1881  Dr.  Mary  Anna  Holbrook,  a graduate  of 
Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  and  of  Michigan  University 
School  of  Medicine,  went  to  China.  She  spent  four 
successful  years  at  Tung-cho,  established  a dispensary 
and  engaged  in  other  work.  In  1887,  health  failing, 
Dr.  Holbrook  returned  to  America.  In  1 889  she 
was  transferred  to  Japan  ; in  1896  returned  to  San 
Francisco;  was  reappointed  in  1901,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  Kobe,  Japan. 

The  story  of  Dr.  Grace  N.  Kimball  is  one  most  un- 
usual in  missionary  annals.  She  was  born  in  Dover, 
N.  H. ; finished  her  school  life  in  Bangor,  Me.,  and 
went  out  as  missionary  of  the  Woman’s  Board  to  Van, 
Turkey,  in  1882.  In  1888  she  returned  to  this  coun- 
try for  the  study  of  medicine,  and  graduated  from  the 
New  York  Woman’s  Medical  College  in  1892. 


8 


©ur  /nbeOlcal  UClorft 


Returning  to  V an,  she  was  soon  face  to  face  with 
Armenia’s  national  tragedy.  Van,  a thousand  miles  to 
the  east  from  Constantinople,  became  the  center  of  the 
work  of  the  “Armenian  Industrial  Relief  Bureau,”  and 
Dr.  Kimball  its  superintendent.  There  had  been  a sys- 
tematic house  to  house  massacre — twelve  thousand  in 
Van,  and  thousands  in  the  villages  about.  The  work 
begun  by  Dr.  Kimball  commanded  the  interest  and  sup- 
port of  the  “Christian  Herald.”  Money  was  sent,  and 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  receiving  it,  Dr.  Kimball 
had  hired  a bakery  and  all  necessary  accompaniments,  and 
had  nine  hundred  pounds  of  dough  prepared  for  baking. 
The  work  grew  until  more  than  seven  thousand  were 
supplied  with  bread  daily.  Over  nine  hundred  persons 
were  employed  in  relief  work,  including  the  supply  of 
wool  and  other  material  to  the  spinners,  weavers,  carders, 
etc.,  thus  emphasizing  the  side  of  industrial  relief. 

Dr.  Kimball  also  distributed  funds  sent  out  by  English 
and  American  societies,  while  elsewhere  in  the  country 
Clara  Barton  had  charge  of  the  Red  Cross  work  and 
distribution  of  the  larger  American  fund.  In  addition  to 
relief  work  Dr.  Kimball  rendered  the  service  usual  to  the 
medical  missionary.  It  is  a sad  fact  that  she  is  not  in 
Turkey  to-day.  Her  diploma  from  the  Woman’s  Medi- 
cal College,  New  York  Infirmary,  was  not  recognized  by 
the  Turkish  government.  United  States  Minister  Tirrell 
undertook  to  get  it  vized  by  the  Sultan,  but  was  unsuc- 
cessful after  three  years  of  effort.  Dr.  Kimball  felt  the 


©ut  /Hiebfcal  TWHork 


9 


limitations  in  her  work  in  consequence,  and  returned  to 
America,  accepting  soon  after  the  position  of  physician  at 
Vassar  College,  and  is  now  practicing  in  Poughkeepsie, 

N.  Y. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  medical  work  in  the 
Eastern  Turkey  Mission  is  more  than  self-supporting — not 
only  the  dispensaries  but  the  hospitals  at  Mardin  and  Van. 

The  name  and  service  of  Dr.  Pauline  Root  are  most 
intimately  connected  with  the  story  of  Madura  Hospital. 
She  went  out  in  1 885  and  soon  established  a wide  repu- 
tation for  faithfulness  and  efficiency ; her  name  will  not  be 
forgotten  in  that  great  center  of  influence,  and  in  the  his- 
tory of  most  beneficent  ministration  in  India.  She  re- 
turned to  America  in  1896  and  soon  after  was  released, 
being  unable  to  return ; but  her  services  have  been  in- 
valuable in  this  country,  contributing  to  the  interest  and 
enlightenment  of  home  workers. 

{present  Work, 

Efrica  (West  Central). 

One  hundred  and  thirteen  millions  of  women  without  the  gospel. 

Sakanjlmba. — Dr.  Rose  A.  Bower,  Sakanjimba,  is  the  one 
medical  representative  of  the  Woman’s  Board  on  the 
continent  of  Africa.  In  1887  the  call  came  to  her  to 
“ go,”  and  being  obedient  to  the  heavenly  vision  she 
engaged  with  the  workers  of  Bishop  Taylor’s  mission  in 
Africa.  After  three  years,  health  failing,  she  came 


10 


©ur  /DbeOtcal  TKHorfc 


home.  Nothing  daunted,  she  improved  an  opportunity 
to  study  medicine,  and  when  equipped  applied  to  the 
American  Board  for  a position  on  the  foreign  field — 
“ Africa  preferred.” 

She  sailed  in  July,  1 894,  and  was  stationed  at  first  at 
Bailundu  ; in  1897  she  removed  to  her  present  field  at 
Sakanjimba.  Seven  years  and  more  have  passed  in 
“ labors  abundant  ” ; in  medical  work,  battling  with  epi- 
demics, fever,  uncleanly  homes  and  habits ; in  industrial 
teaching  and  training ; and  in  it  all  a great  sense  of  isola- 
tion. 

UnMa. 

/‘The  land  where  tfye  shies  forever  smile  and  where  tf?e  op- 
pressed forever  weep.” 

One  hundred  and  thirteen  millions  of  women  without  the  gospel. 

HbntCftUHCjar. — In  India,  a work  prominent  and  practical 
has  been  accomplished  by  the  English  Zenana  and 
Medical  Mission,  of  which  Lady  Kinnaird  was  the 
founder.  This  mission  maintains  three  hospitals,  and  the 
total  number  treated  last  year  in  these  was  sixty-four 
thousand  two  hundred  and  five. 

Ahmednagar  (thirty-five  thousand  population)  is  a 
busy  center  of  missionary  interest  in  the  Marathi  Mission. 
The  Humes,  the  Hardings,  the  Bissells,  are  among 
names  long  associated  with  this  region.  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Bissell  is  now  in  her  fifty-second  year  of  work.  Dr. 
Julia  Bissell,  her  daughter,  has  for  nine  years  conducted 
the  medical  work ; having  the  usual  hospital  assistants, 


©ur  /iBedical  TKHorfc 


H 


trained  nurses,  and  other  helpers.  She  was  born  into 
the  missionary  kingdom,  at  Ahmednagar,  and  could  not 
be  content  away  from  it.  She  was  educated  in  this 
country,  graduating  from  Wellesley  College  in  1886. 
She  then  went  out  to  India  and  taught  for  three  years 
in  the  girls’  school  at  Ahmednagar.  She  had  long  coveted 
a medical  education  for  the  enlarged  opportunities  it 
would  give  her,  and  returning  to  this  country  studied  at 
the  Woman’s  Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  After 
graduation  and  clinical  experience  in  the  woman’s 
hospital  she  returned  to  India  in  1 894  as  missionary 
physician  at  Ahmednagar.  The  dispensary  work,  latest 
annual  report,  included  the  treatment  of  forty-three  thou- 
sand patients,  and  fifteen  hundred  visits  were  made 
in  the  homes.  A most  hopeful  phase  of  the  work  in 
Ahmednagar  is  that  for  prevention — the  hygienic  basis. 
A plague  inspection  committee  was  formed  to  impress 
lessons  of  cleanliness ; to  show  the  connection  of  dirt 
with  disease ; also  diet  and  relief  kitchens  have  been 
established  to  furnish  nourishing  food.  The  lesson  is 
being  learned  that  medicine  is  almost  futile  where 
there  is  stagnant  water,  filth,  improper  food  and  clothing, 
and  utter  neglect  of  hygienic  conditions. 

A fine  hospital  is  being  built  at  Ahmednagar,  but 
funds  are  still  lacking  for  its  equipment.  Dr.  Bissell 
writes : — 

“ This  institution  will  meet  the  needs  of  a large  terri- 
tory. The  nearest  hospital  for  women  in  Poona,  sixty 


12 


©ur  /Ibe&lcal  TWlorfc 


miles  distant,  accommodates  thirty-five  patients.  At 
Sholapur,  sixty  miles  southeast,  a Dufferin  Hospital  has 
twenty  beds.  To  the  north  and  northeast  there  is  no 
hospital  withm  one  hundred  miles.  A population  of  over 
a million  will  contribute  to  the  clientele.” 

Of  diseases  treated,  those  of  the  digestive  system  pre- 
dominate ; fevers  next ; respiration  and  circulation ; 
rheumatism,  eye,  skm,  and  surgical  diseases.  Of  the 
patients  treated  a recent  table  shows  that  the  Hindus 
numbered  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred,  the  Mussul- 
mans five  thousand,  and  the  native  Christians  over  nine- 
teen thousand.  Each  day  repeats  itself  after  this 
fashion:  the  hospital  and  dispensary  work,  which  is 
practically  unlimited ; the  daily  tour,  the  tonga  on  its 
rounds,  and  the  attendant  with  the  ever-present  hand- 
bag with  supplies. 

All  know  the  quick,  hurried  step,  the  ready  sympathy, 
the  gentle  touch,  the  patient  waiting  at  the  bedside,  the 
one  ray  of  light  during  the  long  twenty-four  hours  which 
enters  with  the  physician.  “Oh,”  said  a Brahman,  “you 
know  not  a tithe  of  what  Dr.  Bissell  does.  She  is  a 
veritable  angel  of  light  in  our  city,  in  homes  where  none 
of  us  could  be  hired  to  enter,  and  where  she  needs  must 
have  untiring  patience  with  our  foolish,  unreasonable 
customs  and  prejudices.” 

3B01Hl)8p. — Dr.  Gurubai  Karmarkaris  a native  of  India  who 
studied  in  this  country,  graduating  from  the  Philadelphia 
Woman’s  Medical  College,  and  going  out  in  1894  to 


©ur  flfte&ical  Worfc 


13 


Bombay.  She  is  engaged  in  most  important  medical 
work  and  is  a devoted  Christian  physician  . . . “ win- 
some in  person  and  of  invincible  purpose.”  Besides  her 
branch  dispensary  work  she  visits  orphanages  and 
schools,  averaging  nearly  a, thousand  children  under  her 
professional  care. 

Satara. — Dr.  Louise  H.  Grieve  went  out  to  Ahmednagar 
in  1 900.  She  assisted  in  the  medical  work,  attending 
personally  ten  thousand  patients  in  one  year  of  service. 
She  has  now  removed  to  Satara.  A friend  meets  the 
expense  attending  her  work. 

Dr.  Ruth  Hume  goes  out  this  year,  1903,  and  will 
take  up  so  far  as  possible  Dr.  Bissell’s  work  during  her 
absence.  She  belongs  by  heredity  and  training,  as  also 
by  enthusiasm  and  consecration,  to  the  foreign  field. 
She  is  one  of  the  third  generation  of  missionaries  on  both 
her  father’s  and  mother’s  side.  Her  mother  was  a grand 
niece  of  Mary  Lyon.  She  is  a graduate  of  Wellesley 
College  and  of  the  Philadelphia  Woman’s  Medical  Col 
lege,  and  has  had  clinical  experience  as  interne  at  the  New 
England  Hospital  for  Women,  Boston. 

The_brief  story  of  Dr.  George  W.  Harding,  who  went 
to  take  the  care  of  Dr.  Bissell’s  work,  his  brave  begin- 
nings and  sudden  death,  are  a part  of  the  sad  annals  in 
missionary  work  of  the  year  1903. 

/ID&fcUCa. — “Life  and  Light,”  September,  1 893,  in  an  article 
by  Dr.  Pauline  Root,  makes  vivid  to  us  the  “ New  Hos- 
pital at  Madura,”  its  surroundings  and  conditions ; also 


14 


©ur  /nbeOlcal  HUlorft 


what  it  must  be  to  a poor  patient  to  be  transferred  from 
a close,  ill-ventilated  mud  house  to  the  cleanliness  and 
comfort  and  care  in  the  hospital  wards. 

The  work  laid  down  by  Dr.  Root  has  been  success- 
fully carried  on  by  Dr.  Harriet  E.  Parker,  with  an  effi- 
cient associate,  Mademoiselle  Cronier.  During  Dr. 
Parker’s  furlough  in  this  country,  Dr.  Annie  Young,  of 
Jaffna,  has  taken  her  place,  and  with  Mademoiselle 
Cronier  has  carried  on  the  work.  The  number  of  patients 
reported  by  Dr.  Parker  last  year,  forty-one  thousand  and 
ten,  would  seem  impossible  to  an  M.D.  in  this  country. 
Nineteen  thousand  of  these  were  new  out-patients.  The 
prescriptions,  the  medicine,  the  training  of  nurses  and 
compounders,  and  the  itinerating  band,  mean  a measure- 
less cost  to  both  body  and  soul. 

Four  additional  rooms  are  needed  at  once.  Euro- 
peans, Eurasians,  Mohammedans,  Hindus,  are  on  this 
mammoth  list. 

There  is  “ some  appreciation,”  but  always  the  struggle 
with  fear,  superstition,  ignorance  and  dirt ; repulsion,  even, 
by  women  when  educated  men  call  in  the  foreign  doctor 
for  treatment  of  their  wives.  How  many  are  reached 
with  the  spiritual  gospel  it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  un- 
doubtedly a large  number.  And  it  not  infrequently 
happens  that  though  healing  may  not  be  obtained,  Christ 
is  found  and  the  soul  saved. 

“We  women  in  the  zenanas  of  India  (forty  million) 
suffer  when  we  are  sick,”  was  the  message  from  one  of 


©ur  /IBeDfcal  “Moth 


15 


them  to  Queen  Victoria.  It  is  one  long,  tragic  story  from 
beginning  to  end.  “ Oh,  if  we  could  only  get  within 
these  prisons  of  zenanas ! ” wrote  Dr.  Emslie,  of  Kash- 
mir ; and  Dr.  Duff,  “ If  only  medical  women,  daughters 
of  the  West,  would  come,  India  might  soon  be  moved  to 
its  innermost  recesses.”  There  is  no  prevention,  no  care, 
no  cure,  no  medical  science  worth  the  name ; nothing  to 
make  life  lovely  or  to  be  desired.  Such  is  the  story  of 
India’s  dark,  uncleanly,  airless  dwellings. 

(Xblna. 

One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-six  walled  cities  in  China 
■only  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  contain  missionaries. 

tfoocbow.  Peace  Street  IbospttaL— For  twenty 

years  Dr.  Kate  C.  Woodhull  has  been  trying  to  meet 
the  need  and  answer  the  calls  at  the  Foochow  station  ; 
Foochow,  beautiful  for  situation,  the  “Stockholm  of 
China,”  the  medical  center  of  one  million  people. 

Dr.  Frances  E.  Nieberg  (W.  B.  M.  I.)  went  out  in 
1893,  returning  with  Dr.  Woodhull  from  America,  and 
for  two  years  was  a most  valued  assistant.  In  1896 
she  married  Rev.  Wm.  Goddard  of  the  same  mission, 
and  in  1 900  both  were  released  from  the  Board.  Dr. 
Woodhull  speaks  of  her  great  sense  of  loss,  and  of  the 
imperative  need  of  two  physicians  at  least,  for  the  great 
work  and  because  of  the  special  strain  and  responsibility 
which  come  to  the  lonely  worker.  Dr.  Minnie  Stryker, 
two  years  in  the  field,  is  now  her  special  helper. 


16 


©ur  /Ibe&lcal  'CQlorfc 


Dr.  Woodhull  was  bom  at  Wading  River,  Long 
Island  ; graduated  from  Ingham  University,  Leroy,  N. 
Y.,  and  later  from  the  New  York  College  of  the 
Woman’s  Infirmary.  She  studied  also  at  the  New  York 
College  for  Women  (Homoeopathic),  and  two  years  at 
Zurich  University  and  Dresden  Hospital.  Thus  she  is 
an  all-round  physician  from  natural  aptitude,  from  train- 
ing (six  years),  and  from  her  experience  and  success  as  a 
physician  before  going  as  foreign  missionary.  She 
arrived  in  Foochow  in  1884;  and  her  reason  for 
going,  “ I felt  that  I was  more  needed  there  than  here.” 

In  1 889  the  new  hospital  was  an  accomplished  fact. 
The  medical  students  who  are  studying  and  getting 
clinical  experience  must  be  graduates  of  boarding 
schools.  Mrs.  Ling  Haing  Ling  is  hospital  assistant. 
The  course  of  study  would  be  creditable  to  any  college. 
“ Gray’s  Anatomy  ” and  other  standard  text-books  have 
been  translated  into  Chinese.  “ The  lady  doctor  from 
Great  America  ” is  truly  appreciated.  The  wards  are 
visited  each  morning ; the  students  report  the  cases 
under  their  charge,  and  then  all  go  to  the  dispensary, 
where  a large  company  usually  awaits.  The  total  num- 
ber of  in  and  out  patients,  latest  report,  was  7,565  ; the 
native  fees  amounted  to  $242.75.  During  the 
“ Boxer  troubles  ” all  patients  left  the  hospital,  but 
the  dispensary  work  continued. 

There  is  a hospital  school,  teaching  the  patients  to 
read ; an  evangelistic  service,  etc.  Hannah  C.  Wood- 


©ur  /IbeDfcal  Wlorft 


17 


hull  has  the  care  of  the  school  and  in  connection  with  it 
a brief  lecture  is  given  on  hygiene,  sanitation,  physical, 
mental  and  spiritual  godliness. 

Dr.  Stryker  is  a graduate  of  Mount  Holyoke  College 
and  of  the  Philadelphia  Woman’s  Medical  College. 
She  is  a niece  of  Miss  Garretson  at  the  same  station. 
She  is  a valued  helper ; has  much  practice  and  is  skillful 
in  eye  clinics;  fitting  glasses  and  assisting  Dr.  Woodhull 
in  surgical  operations.  Time  is  given  to  extending  the 
medical  work  through  the  city,  but  never  to  the  neglect 
of  hospital  and  dispensary.  More  rooms  are  needed 
for  patients  and  general  enlargement. 

UTmC^CbO  HHspenSHVp. — In  Tung-cho,  mob  and  mas- 
sacre have  done  their  cruel  work  and  only  time  can 
repair  the  ravages  and  recover  lost  ground. 

Mrs.  D.  Z.  Sheffield  gives  a picture  of  dispensary 
practice  which  is  subjoined,  as  duplicated  so  often 
throughout  the  Orient : — 

“ The  waiting  rooms  are  the  central  point  of  influence 
for  the  spiritual  side  of  our  work,  the  raison  d’etre  of  all 
the  equipment  of  courts  and  buildings,  of  wards  and  pre- 
scribing rooms,  of  all  the  appliances  for  medicine  and 
surgery ; and  it  is  because  in  this  place  we  still  find  the 
largest  number  of  new  listeners  to  the  truth,  and  the 
most  receptive  attitude  for  receiving  the  gospel  of  soul 
healing,  that  it  continues  and  will  long  continue  to 
demand  of  you  a faithful,  steady  support  in  gifts  and 
prayers. 

“ In  this  room  we  find  many  classes  mingled.  The 
‘ touch  of  nature  ’ — of  poor,  suffering  humanity — makes 


18 


©ur  fl&eblcal  Tffiloth 


them  all  of  kinship  for  the  time.  Little  children  with 
sallow,  wasted  features  ; young  girls  shrinking  in  dread 
at  meeting  the  stranger  doctor  and  telling  of  their  ills ; 
women  in  rags  and  poverty  with  loathsome  sores  ; 
women  in  silks  and  jewels  whose  wealth  has  not  pur- 
chased for  them  immunity  from  disease;  aged  dames 
leaning  on  their  staffs  for  support,  blear-eyed,  trembling, 
eager — surely  a group  to  make  us  glad  that  soul-life  is 
higher  than  the  body ; glad  that  for  weary  hearts  and 
darkened  minds  there  is  a gospel  of  peace ; glad  that,  if 
the  poor  body  cannot  always  find  the  relief  it  seeks, 
there  is  the  balm  of  God’s  forgiveness  and  the  hope  of 
eternal  life  and  health  if  they  will  heed  the  gospel  mes- 
sage.” 


XKHoman's  fBoarb  of  tbe  Anterior. 

The  W.  B.  M.  I.  has  two  missionaries  in  China,  Dr. 
Lucy  P.  Bement  at  Shaowu,  Dr.  Emily  Dillman  Smith 
at  Ing  Hok.  Dr.  Bement  after  two  years  of  waiting  has 
a dispensary  and  funds  have  been  provided  for  a hos- 
pital. During  the  first  nine  months  she  saw  5,677 
patients.  Ing  Hok  has  a small  hospital  and  dispensary 
and  the  work  has  well  begun. 

Dr.  Virginia  C.  Murdock  went  out  in  1 88 1 , a mis- 
sionary of  the  W.  B.  M.  I.  at  Kalgan,  China.  She  is 
an  able  physician,  and  as  Dr.  Clark  said  of  her  “ a 
downright  Christian  worker.”  Her  dispensary,  desir- 
ably located  in  the  center  of  the  city,  has  proved  far 
reaching  for  good.  Dr.  Murdock  has  sent  to  this  country 
some  of  the  best  expositions  of  Chinese  medical  practice. 


©ur  /Ifte&fcal  Work 


19 


XEurfeep. 

Htntab. — The  Woman’s  Board  has  long  had  a part  in  the 
medical  work  at  Aintab  through  Elizabeth  M.  Trow- 
bridge, matron  and  trained  nurse,  who  went  out 
in  1891.  Her  work  is  not  simply  secondary  in  the 
general  care  and  treatment  and  all  that  pertains  to  hos- 
pital practice  and  outside  patients. 

Prior  to  1873,  there  were  no  trained  nurses,  Occi- 
dental or  in  the  Orient,  an  agency  often  more  impor- 
tant than  the  best  of  physicians.  This  special  work 
was  commenced  at  Kyoto,  Japan,  and  other  fields  are 
demanding  this  class  of  greatly  needed  helpers. 

Dr.  Caroline  Hamilton — supported  by  a friend — went 
out  soon  after  Miss  Trowbridge  and  is  an  integral  part 
of  medical  work  at  Aintab.  She  had  one  night  given 
her  for  rest  and  adaptation  to  her  new  surroundings, 
and  with  the  aid  of  an  interpreter  began  work  at  once 
and  has  not  stopped  since. 

A Moslem  would  usually  allow  his  wife  to  die  rather 
than  call  in  a physician,  but  there  are  many  who  may  be 
reached  and  always  there  is  more  than  enough  to  do. 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  physicians  as  well  as  others  turn 
cheerfully  from  their  regular  practice  in  time  of  famine 
to  assist, — often  a great  strain  upon  body  and  soul. 
The  old,  old  story  of  Christ  a Saviour,  and  the  need 
of  faith  in  Him,  is  repeated  in  numberless  ways  and 
through  all  these  agencies. 

The  general  subject  should  cover  a glance  at  the 


20 


<$>ur  fl&eDfcal  TKHork 


medical  work  done  by  missionaries  of  the  Board  who 
have  never  taken  a degree ; for  instance,  Mrs.  Myra 
P.  Tracy  of  Marsovan,  Turkey,  who  at  one  time  treated 
one  hundred  cases  of  la  grippe.  She  has  always  assisted 
in  the  care  and  treatment  of  the  sick,  and  after  Dr.  Car- 
rington’s arrival,  in  surgical  operations. 

A great  and  blessed  work  in  the  realm  of  hygiene 
has  been  done  at  Marsovan.  There  was  sickness  at 
the  station,  much  of  it  due  to  impure  water,  as  ascer- 
tained by  Dr.  Carrington.  It  was  found  that  the  only 
pure  supply  had  been  pre-empted  by  a Turk ! There 
was  no  money  to  buy  the  right  of  way,  and  for  a time 
water  was  brought  to  the  station  in  barrels.  At  length 
a philanthropist  arrived  and  hearing  the  story  furnished 
the  needed  funds  for  securing  the  pure  water.  As  a 
consequence,  disease  has  been  greatly  lessened ; also 
its  virulence  in  many  severe  cases. 

Another  most  beneficent  work  is  the  building  of 
homes  in  the  hill  country  for  summer  rest  and  change. 
How  refreshing,  to  go  up  from  tired  cities  and  low  plains 
into  the  pure  air  and  soft  cool  breezes  of  the  Mahab- 
leshwar  Hills,  our  “ Rest  Home  ” in  India ! All  that 
such  an  experience  may  mean  to  the  missionary  in  the  way 
of  hygienic,  preventive  influence  is  not  easily  estimated. 

The  world  is  beginning  to  leam  that  the  ills  of  life, 
hereditary  and  other,  are  around  us,  cumulative  and  pro- 
gressive, because  of  our  own  carelessness  and  neglect. 

“To  cure  is  the  voice  of  the  past ; 

To  prevent,  the  divine  whisper  of  to-day." 


